Search

Early recurrence (ER) is a significant concern following curative resection of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) and is linked to poor long-term survival. Reliable prediction of ER is challenging, necessitating the development of a novel radiomics-based nomogram for CRC patients. We enrolled 405 patients, with 298 in the training set and 107 in the external test set. Radiomic features were extracted from preoperative venous-phase computed tomography (CT) images. A radiomics signature was created using univariate logistic regression analyses and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm. Clinical factors were integrated into the analyses to develop a comprehensive predictive tool in a multivariate logistic regression model, resulting in a radiomics nomogram. Subsequently, the calibration, discrimination, and clinical usefulness of the nomogram were evaluated. The radiomics signature, consisting of four selected CT features, was significantly associated with ER in both the training and test datasets (P < 0.05). Independent predictors of ER included TNM stage, carcinoembryonic antigen level and differentiation grade were identified. The radiomics nomogram, incorporating all these predictors, exhibited good predictive ability in both the training set with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.82 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 0.74–0.90) and the test set with an AUC of 0.85 (95 % CI, 0.72–0.99), surpassing the performance of any single candidate factor alone. Furthermore, additional analysis demonstrated that the nomogram was clinically useful. We have developed a radiomics-based nomogram that effectively predicts early recurrence in CRC patients, enhancing the potential for timely intervention and improved outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hg released from coal mining activities can endanger soil ecosystems and pose a risk to human health. Understanding the accumulation characteristics of mercury (Hg) in coal mining soil is important for effectively controlling Hg emissions and developing measures for the prevention and control of Hg contamination. To identify the potential sources of Hg in soils, the Hg concentration and isotopic composition characteristics of raw coal and different topsoil types from the areas surrounding a coal mine were determined in this study. The results showed that Hg in coal mainly exists mainly in the form of inorganic Hg, and Hg has experienced Hg2+ photoreduction prior to incorporating into coal. In addition, the composition of Hg isotopes differed significantly among different topsoil types, and the δ202Hg value of the farmland soil exhibited large negative excursions compared to the coal mining soil. The ternary mixed model further revealed the presence of substantial differences in potential Hg sources among the two regions, with the coal mining soil being greatly disturbed by anthropogenic activity, and the relative contributions of Hg from raw coal, coal gangue, and background soil to coal mining soil being 33.42%, 34.4%, and 32.19%, respectively. However, Hg from raw coal, coal gangue and background soil contributed 17.04%, 21.46%, and 61.51% of the Hg in the farmland soil, indicating that the accumulation of Hg in farmland soil was derived primarily from the background soil. Our study demonstrated that secondary pollution in soil caused by immense accumulation of solid waste (gangue) by mining activities offers a significant challenge to ecological security. These findings provide new insights into controlling soil Hg in mining areas and further highlight the urgency of strict protective measures for contaminated sites. [Display omitted] • Mercury release caused by coal mining activities endangers soil ecosystems • Differences in Hg isotopes in distinct types of soil • The accumulation of Hg in coal mining soil is mainly affected by anthropogenic perturbations • The contribution of coal gangue to soil Hg cannot be ignored [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing salinization of groundwater renders it challenging to maintain the water quality. Moreover, knowledge regarding the characteristics and mechanism of groundwater salinization in mining areas remains limited. This study represents the first attempt of combining the hydrochemical, isotope (δD, δ18O, δ37Cl, and 87Sr/86Sr) and multivariate statistical analysis methods to explore the origin, control, and influence of fluoride enrichment in mining cities. The TDS content of groundwater ranged from 275.9 mg/L to 2452.0 mg/L, and 54% of the groundwater samples were classified as class IV water according to China's groundwater quality standards (GB/T 14848–2017), indicating a decline in the water quality of the study area. The results of the groundwater ion ratio and isotope discrimination analysis showed that dissolution and evaporation involving water-rock interactions and halite were the main driving processes for groundwater salinization in the study area. In addition to the hydrogeological and climatic conditions, mine drainage inputs exacerbated the increasing salinity of the groundwater in local areas. The mineral dissolution, cation exchange, and evaporation promoted the F− enrichment, while excessive evaporation and salinity inhibited the F− enrichment. Gangue accumulation and infiltration likely led to considerable F− enrichment in individual groundwater regions. Extensive changes in the groundwater salinity indicated differences in the geochemical processes that controlled the groundwater salinization. Given the particularity of the study area, the enrichment of salinization and fluoride triggered by mining activities cannot be ignored. [Display omitted] • Use isotope and ionic contents to identify the salinity of groundwater. • Various geochemical processes control groundwater salinization. • The input of mine drainage intensifies the salinization of groundwater. • Intense evaporation and salinity could restrict the enrichment of fluoride. • The salinization of groundwater in mining area needs to be optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Daylily has sleep-improvement effects. • Integration of omics and targeted screening provide insights. • 728 metabolites, 539 targeted metabolites and 368 differentially genes were found. • Activity of daylily is mainly through neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Daylily (Hemerocallis citrina Baroni, HC) is an edible plant and is traditionally considered with potential to improve sleep. Herein, based on the Drosophila activity monitoring, metabolome, targeted screening and transcriptome, the material basis and mechanism of HC on sleep-improvement was investigated. The results showed that the aqueous extracts of HC (HAE) as well as the ethanol extracts (HEE) all prolonged the total sleep time of insomnia fruit flies, especially HEE-60 and HEE-95 exhibited more significant effects. In addition, 539 of 728 found metabolites were screened as potential sleep-improved metabolites, and quercetin, linoleic acid, phenethyl caffeate, L-methionine and γ-aminobutyric acid were considered as core active metabolites. Meanwhile, 368 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were revealed by transcriptomics analysis, and the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction was deduced as the main pathway by KEGG pathway enrichment. Furthermore, nine DEGs located in this pathway, namely betaTry, deltaTry, gammaTry, epsilonTry, etaTry, iotaTry, lambdaTry, kappaTry and CG30031 were proven being up-regulated. All these results contribute to the development of HC-related functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relying on the synchronic function of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanisms, a novel fluorophore could emit red-fluorescence with a large Stokes' shift in aggregation state and be used as a sensor for highly selective and sensitive detection of Cu2+ in THF/water system (f w = 90%, pH = 7.4). [Display omitted] • A α-cyanostilbene-based sensor was synthesized by Schiff base reaction. • It could emit red-fluorescence with a large Stokes' shift of ca. 285 nm in solution and aggregation states. • It exhibited prominent "AIE + ESIPT" features in aggregation and solid states. • It possessed a specific sensing ability towards Cu2+ in aggregation and solid states. Through Schiff base reaction of the salicylaldehyde-like α-cyanostilbene derivative with benzophenone hydrazone, a novel fluorophore has been successfully obtained in high yield of 89% and fully characterized by standard spectroscopic techniques. Depending upon the synchronic function of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanisms, this fluorophore emitted the fascinating red-fluorescence at 602 nm with a large Stokes' shift of 287 nm in aggregation state. This fluorophore as a sensor showed the highly selective and sensitive chelating ability towards Cu2+ in THF/water system (f w = 90%, pH = 7.4), which was confirmed by a prominent attenuation of red-fluorescence at 602 nm with the limit of detection (LOD) of 2.34 × 10-8 M due to the complexation of the sensor and Cu2+ with 2: 1 binding stoichiometry. The proposed recognition mechanism was supported by SEM images, HR-MS analysis, FT-IR and 1H NMR spectra. For applications, this sensor was successfully utilized to determine Cu2+ in environmental water samples. The silica gel test strip impregnated with this fluorophore was also employed for the on-site monitoring of Cu2+ under UV 365nm illumination, indicating its potential utility for visual detection of Cu2+ in solid state. Hence, this work provided a feasible strategy to construct long-wavelength intense fluorescence sensor for effective measurement of Cu2+ level in aggregation state as well as visual detection of Cu2+ in solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]